With the team not just failing to meet expectations but utterly flailing in every category, Bruins’ management decided to go with the tried and true NHL remedy.
They fired the coach.
Mired with an 8-9-3 record after Monday’s 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, just the latest in a string of head-scratching defeats, GM Don Sweeney announced that Jim Montgomery was done behind the B’s bench. Taking his place will be associate coach Joe Sacco on an interim basis. It was first reported by WEEI.
“Today, I made a very difficult decision with regards to a coaching change. Jim Montgomery is a very good NHL coach and an even better person,” said Sweeney in statement. “He has made a positive impact throughout the Bruins organization, and I am both grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to work with him and learn from him. Jim’s accomplishments as the Bruins head coach include a record-breaking and historic season, and I want to thank his entire family and wish him, Emily, J.P., Colin, Ava and Olivia all the success and happiness with their next opportunity. Our team’s inconsistency and performance in the first 20 games of the 2024-25 season has been concerning and below how the Bruins want to reward our fans. I believe Joe Sacco has the coaching experience to bring the players and the team back to focusing on the consistent effort the NHL requires to have success. We will continue to work to make the necessary adjustments to meet the standard and performance our supportive fans expect.”
Montgomery gave the Bruins two excellent regular season, including a record-breaking 65-win season in his first year in 2022-23 for which eh won the Jack Adams Award. But post-season success was elusive. The B’s were stunned in the first round by the Florida Panthers in 20223 and then lost the Panthers, the eventual Stanley Cup champs, in the second round last season. Montgomery was in the last year of a three-year contract. Sweeney prior to the season that they were in negotiations for an extension but that never came to fruition. How much that hurt Montgomery’s standing is hard to know, but it couldn’t have helped.
Montgomery took over for Bruce Cassidy, who then went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights..
Sacco, the Medford native and Boston University product who played 738 NHL games with five different clubs, has been on the staff since the Claude Julien days, taking on an assistant’s role in 2014-15. He was the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche for three-plus seasons before being dismissed in 2012-13.
Team president Cam Neely said in part: “We wish Jim and his family the best moving forward both personally and professionally. I’m supportive of Don’s decision to address our current play and performance. Joe Sacco has a wealth of experience and knowledge of our roster and can help lead our team in the right direction. He has a strong understanding of our standards and expectations, and I trust he will do all he can to accomplish our organization’s goals this season.”
While coaches have been fired for less, there are serious questions surrounding the team. With high expectations going into the season, the B’s are at or near the bottom of the league in offense, defense and special teams. But there are concerns surrounding roster construction. Sweeney’ two big signings in the offseason – two-way center Elias Lindholm and big defenseman Nikita Zadorov – have not played particularly well. Meanwhile, some of the mainstay veterans and impact players like David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy have not performed up to their standards, either.
Now we’ll find out how much the coach was the issue and how much of this is on management.
Sweeney and Sacco will address reporters following the B’s 11 am practice.